Patents by Inventor William H. Mitchell
William H. Mitchell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190276783Abstract: A user interface for a beer recipe creator may have a series of icons that may represent ingredients. A user may drag and drop or otherwise add the icons to containers on a display screen to add or remove ingredients to the recipe. With each added or removed ingredient, a set of descriptors may be updated. The descriptors may include numerical values of beer parameters as well as textual descriptions and visual descriptions. The system may allow a user to start with a desired beer style, and the parameters may show variances from the selected style. The system may generate an ingredients list, as well as a brewing recipe that may be transferred to a controller for a beer making machine. The system may adjust certain parameters that are controllable by the beer making machine to make flavor and other adjustments selected by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Patent number: 10377981Abstract: A beer making system may modify a beer ingredient/process recipe to adjust sensory characteristics of a desired beer. With a given ingredient list and starting recipe, a performance model of a brewing system may be used to generate an updated recipe when given a set of desired sensory characteristics of a desired beer. A user interface may permit a user to adjust characteristics such as thin/thick mouthfeel, dryness/maltiness, hops bitterness, hops flavor, hops aroma, and other characteristics. An updated recipe may change mashing schedules, boiling schedules, or other programmatically controlled aspects of a brewing system. The performance model may include heuristics as well as performance metrics derived from observing previous brewing sessions on one or multiple devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20190085276Abstract: An automated or semi-automated beer brewing system may adjust a brewing session based on data collected during the brewing session. The adjustments may attempt to achieve a set of desired taste characteristics, even though a brewing session may then deviate from an intended recipe. A performance model of the brewing system may include taste characteristic effects and operational aspects of an automated brewing system, and may be used to calculate changes to various brewing steps. A control system may analyze various measured parameters to determine deviation from an intended recipe, and may use the performance model to calculate updated brewing steps that may attempt to achieve the desired result. When such measured parameters indicate a malfunction, a brewing session may be paused or terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20180199751Abstract: A brewing device may have several different configurations to make various beverages. Under computer control, the device may be able to sequence various ingredients using direct or recirculating percolation for immediate consumption, such as coffee and tea, or for fermenting for later consumption, such as beer, kombutcha, or other consumable products. The device may be capable of a sequenced percolation, such as coffee infusion of a first type of coffee, then a second type of coffee, followed by vanilla, and followed by spices. The device may be capable of sequential, cascading, or parallel percolation directly or using recirculating paths. Ingredients may be pre-packaged or may be placed into various removable and cleanable containers. The device may further be capable of infusion by steeping ingredients in a dispensing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20180171273Abstract: A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20180134579Abstract: A system for separating a soluble solution includes a first freezer configured to receive a liquid feed stream and a refrigerant stream, and discharge a concentrated solution stream, wherein the first freezer is configured to exchange heat between the liquid feed stream and the refrigerant stream through direct contact within the first freezer and freeze a portion of the liquid feed stream, a first separator external to the first freezer and configured to separate ice particles from the concentrated solution stream and recirculate the concentrated solution stream to the first freezer, and a first ice washer coupled to the first separator and configured to receive the ice particles separated from the concentrated solution stream by the first separator and wash the separated ice particles to free the ice particles from contaminants.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventor: William H. Mitchell, JR.
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Publication number: 20180112159Abstract: An automated or semi-automated beer brewing system may adjust a brewing session based on data collected during the brewing session. The adjustments may attempt to achieve a set of desired taste characteristics, even though a brewing session may then deviate from an intended recipe. A performance model of the brewing system may include taste characteristic effects and operational aspects of an automated brewing system, and may be used to calculate changes to various brewing steps. A control system may analyze various measured parameters to determine deviation from an intended recipe, and may use the performance model to calculate updated brewing steps that may attempt to achieve the desired result. When such measured parameters indicate a malfunction, a brewing session may be paused or terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Patent number: 9932547Abstract: A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell
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Patent number: 9688949Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Publication number: 20170130178Abstract: A user interface for a beer recipe creator may have a series of icons that may represent ingredients. A user may drag and drop or otherwise add the icons to containers on a display screen to add or remove ingredients to the recipe. With each added or removed ingredient, a set of descriptors may be updated. The descriptors may include numerical values of beer parameters as well as textual descriptions and visual descriptions. The system may allow a user to start with a desired beer style, and the parameters may show variances from the selected style. The system may generate an ingredients list, as well as a brewing recipe that may be transferred to a controller for a beer making machine. The system may adjust certain parameters that are controllable by the beer making machine to make flavor and other adjustments selected by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: PicoBrew, LLCInventor: William H. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20170029752Abstract: A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20160272927Abstract: An automated or semi-automated beer brewing system may adjust a brewing session based on data collected during the brewing session. The adjustments may attempt to achieve a set of desired taste characteristics, even though a brewing session may then deviate from an intended recipe. A performance model of the brewing system may include taste characteristic effects and operational aspects of an automated brewing system, and may be used to calculate changes to various brewing steps. A control system may analyze various measured parameters to determine deviation from an intended recipe, and may use the performance model to calculate updated brewing steps that may attempt to achieve the desired result. When such measured parameters indicate a malfunction, a brewing session may be paused or terminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20160272928Abstract: A beer making system may modify a beer ingredient/process recipe to adjust sensory characteristics of a desired beer. With a given ingredient list and starting recipe, a performance model of a brewing system may be used to generate an updated recipe when given a set of desired sensory characteristics of a desired beer. A user interface may permit a user to adjust characteristics such as thin/thick mouthfeel, dryness/maltiness, hops bitterness, hops flavor, hops aroma, and other characteristics. An updated recipe may change mashing schedules, boiling schedules, or other programmatically controlled aspects of a brewing system. The performance model may include heuristics as well as performance metrics derived from observing previous brewing sessions on one or multiple devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventor: William H. Mitchell
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Patent number: 9376653Abstract: A cascading hops reservoir may have a series of hops or adjunct reservoirs, each having a drain and an overflow. The series of reservoirs may be used by causing flow through a first reservoir, which may cause liquid to flow through the reservoir and through the drain, as well as past an overflow. When a second set of hops or adjuncts may be added, the flow may be introduced to a second reservoir, which may flow through a drain and also overflow into the first reservoir. A series of multiple reservoirs may thus be used to introduce hops or other adjuncts into a brewing cycle in stages, with each additional stage including previous stages in the recirculating flow during the brewing cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Patent number: 9228163Abstract: The present invention provides a method to create and a process for using a compact, automated, all-grain beer brewing appliance. The method may include a microprocessor-based Process Control System, a Heat EXchanger loop, a Fluid Distribution Manifold, a Step Filter Basket, a Hot Fluid Tank, pumps, valves, plumbing and brewing control instruments. The invention may also make use of a Filter-Keg in lieu of a Hot Fluid Tank allowing fermentation, conditioning and dispensing from a single replaceable vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: PICOBREW, INCInventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell
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Patent number: 9109192Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Patent number: 9102908Abstract: A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Publication number: 20150000530Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Publication number: 20150000532Abstract: A cascading hops reservoir may have a series of hops or adjunct reservoirs, each having a drain and an overflow. The series of reservoirs may be used by causing flow through a first reservoir, which may cause liquid to flow through the reservoir and through the drain, as well as past an overflow. When a second set of hops or adjuncts may be added, the flow may be introduced to a second reservoir, which may flow through a drain and also overflow into the first reservoir. A series of multiple reservoirs may thus be used to introduce hops or other adjuncts into a brewing cycle in stages, with each additional stage including previous stages in the recirculating flow during the brewing cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
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Publication number: 20150000531Abstract: A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger